DEMOCRACY’S LOGICAL CONCLUSION
- Jan Writer
- Oct 9, 2024
- 4 min read
There’s a famous quote by Voltaire. It went something like this: “If you want to be ruled by idiots, at least let them dance while they do it.”
And here we are. Watching the chaos unfold in real-time, like a slow-motion car crash. TikTokers, YouTubers, the influencer class—our new political elites—are filing their certificates of candidacy.
You almost want to laugh, but then you remember this is the Philippines. This is democracy, babe, at its finest and most logical conclusion.
Let’s be real, democracy was bound to end up here. It was inevitable, like the predictable jump scares in a bad horror movie, where you know exactly when the villain will pop up, yet you're still dumbfounded when it happens.
Imagine the thinkers of ancient Greece, discussing the merits of governance, only for one of them to suddenly throw in: "What if the people elected the guy who got famous for his makeup tutorials?" Aristotle probably would have laughed.
But fast forward to 2024, and here we are, watching as the dreamers, the influencers, and the meme generators stand in line to file their candidacies, armed with a ring light and a Wi-Fi connection stronger than their grasp of public policy.
Is it offensive if I say that this is democracy at its most naked? Well, if you're uncomfortable with nudity, this might be the time to leave the theater. Because this is a full-frontal view of what happens when the collective IQ of a nation plummets as fast as its gold reserves.
But don’t be too hasty. The problem isn’t TikTok. Or YouTube. Or even the internet itself. The problem is that liberal democracy is working exactly as intended.
You wanted the voice of the people? Well, the people speak in emojis and viral dance challenges now.
And no, this isn’t a nostalgic rant about the "good ol’ days" when politicians were seasoned statesmen (spoiler: they weren't). This is about the terrifying brilliance of the present moment, where the lines between entertainer and leader blur, where the digital likes and follows translate directly into votes, because why not?
If you can get a million views, surely you can manage a city, right?
Wait. Have I said too much? Perhaps. But not enough, I think.
Here’s the thing: the nature of politics is to evolve. And, let’s face it, it's evolved in the most absurd way possible. It's no longer about qualifications, policies, or ideals. It's about who can make you laugh, who can give you that quick serotonin boost while waiting for your GrabFood rider (essay not sponsored) to finally arrive.
In fact, why even vote for someone who understands the intricacies of governance or legislation when you can vote for someone who looks good in 4K and knows how to say “naur”?
But here's the deeper question: is this what democracy always intended? A free-for-all where anyone can step up to the plate, regardless of their capabilities?
Maybe. Maybe that's the beauty of it. And maybe that’s why it's so dangerous.
In The Republic, Plato talks about democracy as a system that leads to its own destruction, where freedom turns into anarchy, and anarchy births tyranny. Was Plato predicting the rise of influencer-candidates? Probably not. But let’s pretend he was, because it makes me feel smarter. It’s almost as if he foresaw the day when political debates would be reduced to 30-second TikToks, and having a glass skin would outweigh competence in the battle for public approval.
Is it offensive to suggest that our electoral process has always been a glorified popularity contest? No? Good. Because that’s exactly what it is. And I’m not even mad about it. I’m actually impressed. The system works. The algorithm has spoken. You wanted democracy? You got it—complete with jump cuts, viral hashtags, and dance moves that I’m too old to understand.
But let’s go a step further: maybe this is what we deserve. Maybe we, the electorate, have finally achieved the purest form of self-expression by choosing candidates not based on their ability to govern, but on their ability to entertain.
After all, isn’t that what politics is all about? The performance? The drama? The sheer spectacle of it all?
And before you start panicking over the fate of the nation, ask yourself: do you really care? Or are you just mad because your favorite influencer didn’t file their candidacy? Because if we’re being honest, half of you would vote for your favorite vlogger in a heartbeat if it meant a shoutout.
So where does that leave us? In a brave new world where the lines between reality and performance have blurred beyond recognition? Where the people we elect are more skilled at editing videos than drafting legislation? Yep. Maybe that’s exactly where we were headed all along.
Now, does this essay make any sense? Maybe not. But that’s kind of the point.
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